Doctors Efforts Toward Appropriate Medical Waste Management

Transcription

1 Asia 3R Conference Mita Conference Hall October 30, 2006 Doctors Efforts Toward Appropriate Medical Waste Management Satoshi IMAMURA, MD Executive Board Member Japan Medical Association

2 About JMA Japan Medical Association (JMA) Founded in 1916 National voice of Japanese physicians 165,000 members (about 60% of all licensed physicians in Japan) Mission to play leadership for citizens to promote the highest standards of medical ethics and education 2

3 Why should doctors take care of Medical Wastes? 3

4 Medical wastes cause diseases, and Doctors should prevent them 4

5 Threats of Medical Waste Threats to Health 4 needlestick accidents per 100 beds in a year Infectious rate by needlestick accidents HBV 10 ~ 35% HCV 2 ~ 5% HIV 0.2 ~ 0.5% Threats to Environment Cause environmental pollution 5

6 Responsibility of Waste Generators Responsibility from the beginning (generation) to the end (final disposal) If waste are illegally disposed by others such as contracted waste disposal companies We may still have responsibility to recover them.

7 Doctors Activities I. Waste management in the hospital 1. Identification 2. Segregation 3. Container 4. Bio-hazard Mark 5. Medical Waste Supervisors II. Waste management out of the hospital 6. Slips used for Waste Management 7. Visiting Waste Treatment Facility

8 1. Identification [Step [Step 1] 1] Appearance Appearance 1) 1) Blood, Blood, blood blood serum, serum, blood blood plasma plasma and and body body fluid fluid (including (including semen) semen) 2) 2) Pathologic Pathologic waste waste (organs, (organs, tissues, tissues, skins, skins, etc.) etc.) 3) 3) Waste Waste used used in in tests tests and and examinations examinations related related to to pathogenic pathogenic microbes microbes 4) 4) Sharps Sharps with with blood, blood, etc. etc. [Step [Step 2] 2] Place Place Waste Waste generated generated after after the the use use of; of; 1) 1) Medical Medical treatment, treatment, examination, examination, etc. etc. 2) 2) In In beds beds for for infectious infectious diseases diseases 3) 3) Operation Operation 4) 4) Emergency Emergency Room Room 5) 5) ICU ICU (Intensive (Intensive Care Care Units) Units) 6) 6) Laboratories Laboratories [Step [Step 3] 3] Infectious Infectious Disease Disease Waste Waste generated generated after after the the medical medical treatment treatment and and examination examination for for the the infectious infectious disease disease NO NO NO YES YES YES Infectious wastes Non-infectious wastes 8

9 2. Segregation Sharps Plastics (compatible) Glass bottles

10 Segregation (Laboratory Wastes) Only Needles Only Injections Others

11 3. Containers For Sharps (Needles, surgical knife) Made of metal or plastics Made of anti-penetrate containers For Solid Double-Use of plastics bag For Liquid and Sledge Made by anti-leak container (Keep out liquid) 11

12 4. Bio-hazard Mark Used for containers with special color to distinguish types of wastes easily Red : for Liquid or Sludge waste Orange : for Solid waste Yellow : for Sharps waste

13 5. Medical Waste Supervisor Each Facility should appoint the supervisor Responsibilities include; Managing medical wastes in the facility Improving awareness among staffs Developing Waste Management Plans Qualification Degrees in medicine, pharmacy, public health, hygieiology or veterinary science (Medical Doctors, Dental Doctors, Pharmacists, Veterinarians, Health Nurses, Midwives, Nurses, Clinical/Health Laboratory Technologists and Dental Hygienists)

14 II. Waste management out of the hospital Removal Treatment Transportation 14

15 6. Slips for Waste Management Waste Treatment Facility Waste Generator Transporter Transporter As As Disposer Generator Final Disposal Site Send the Copy containing the final disposal specification Specify the final disposal in the copy

16 7. Visiting Facilities

17 JMA s Activities 8. Promotion for appropriate treatment (ex. seminars) 9. Selection of most appropriate disposal company 10. Social Contribution against Illegal Dumping 11. Technology Development such as IC Chips

18 8. Seminars

19 9. Coordination between hospitals & waste disposal companies Local Medical Associations should play a key role Build Networks for small clinics

20 10. Technology Development such as IC Chips.

21 Covered by soil Waste Injection Cylinder

22 11. Social Contribution against illegal dumping Local Government Treatment Illegal Dumping Fund Industries JMA National Government

23 Take Home Messages Medical waste causes serious adverse effects to human health and environment History shows that medical waste increases in accordance with industrialization Appropriate treatment system is essential Doctors can and should play a key role

24 Thank you!